Facts at a glance:

Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy, within the British Commonwealth of Nations

Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented in St. Johns by Governor- General, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams

Head of Government: Prime Minister, the Honourable Gaston Browne

Location: 17.5° N, 62°W

Area: 280 sq. km/108 sq.mi. (Antigua); 161 sq.km/62 sq.mi.(Barbuda)

Population: 92,859 (2016 est.)

Ethnic Make-Up: The majority of the population is of African descent, with some of British, Portuguese, Lebanese and Syrian origin.

Adult Literacy: 86%

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar

Exchange Rate: US$1 = EC$2.70

Time Zone: EST +1; GMT -4

Phone Code: (268) plus local number

History: Columbus landed in Antigua and Barbuda in 1493 and it was settled by the English in 1632. After a brief period of French control, it passed back to Great Britain in 1667. Antigua and Barbuda was a member of the short-lived Federation of the West Indies from 1958-1962.

On February 27, 1967 Antigua and its two dependencies, Barbuda and Redonda, entered into a free association with other British dependencies in the Windward and Leeward Islands. Antigua & Barbuda gained full independence on November 1, 1981 within the British Commonwealth.